Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-31
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mir. Say,s PamphIet Letter 90 sena-
tOr Evartn.

t0A AtN@AA.s
IIarper's Weekly.
Congress having preferred the Edmdnds |
ratsiiation bill to tnat OF Nj. belmont,
tbs Ryesident is now empowered at his
discretion to do to Canadian fishing YES
ssls ~ they do to ours. This, however,
il no settlement of the question II
Canada should yield 10 pressure, the i'll
feeling would remain, and the old trouble
would presently recur as il has REQUIRED
In the past. II is at timely moment,
therefore, that Mr.. jays pamphlet letter
TO Senator Eyarts appears, discussing the
whole question fully, calmly and effect.
lively, ard proposing the abrcgation Of
the convention of 1915, with q view to the
adjustment of the difficulty by negotia-
tion, and the final security of the rights
and liberties defined in the treaty of l7SS.
Lord Rossbery, the British foreign sec
rotary, proposed frank and friendly
consideration of the subject, and pos
sihle revision of the treaty Of 1918. II is
agreed by Mr.. Bayard and Lord Rose
berry, and by Mr.. Phelps aud Lord Sails
buly that the decision Of the dispute de.
ponds upon the Interpretation Of that
treaty. Retaliation to enforce our view
Of the treaty, as MIR. Jay suggests, would
dispose our English brethren TO fight
rather than argue, precisely as the SAME
course would dispose us. When, there
fore, II was decided to retaliate, il would
have been wise TO state at the same time
how we would like permanently to secure
our rights.
That we have right to abrogate til,
treaty, and that our rights defined ant
guaranteed by the treaty Of 1888 were
not lost by the war of 1912, Mr.. ia!
forcibly maintains, and he shows clearl.
that while il Ia for every reason desirable
that the disposition of the fisheries con
vention of 1878 should be made by mu
tual consent, yet If Great Britain should
~fuse 10 take common action, onr abro
- tha first article would reViv
IN i.s.. 49, Tie third article Of the treat.
Of peace in 1885," which gives to tn
people Of the United States the right &
take fish ON the Banks Of Newfouudlant
and in the Gulf of st. Lawrence, and a
all other places in the SEQ where the in
habitants Of both countries have been nc
customed TO fish, and to dry and cure i
any Of the unsettled bays, harbors an
creeks, but at settlements only by pre-
vious agreement. Mr. Jay presents cor
else and admirable sketch Of the histor
of the fisheries, especially in respect {
the treaty of 1888, of which he has here
tofore made aoomprehensiSe and elaborRi
study. By that treaty the article on Il
fisheries was made fundamental, PERM
nent and enduring" and its acceptant
by Great Britain was condition of Il
peace. That war like the war of lSl
does not extinguish treaties and annui Il
rights recognized by them, MIR. Jay esta
fishes by incontestable authorities.
The House at the Inst moment passt
the retaliation bill in the form adopted |
4 the Senate. The subject is now con
mitted to the action Of the President Al
of the state department. Bnt the appes
ance Of the pamphlet amply and tempe
ately reviewing the whole subject, al
expressing, as it unquestionably does,
view Of the question which is very &c
orally held in this country, will be
great service to the President in his exc
else of the authority intrusted to him
the bill, and to the Secretary OF State
his correspondence. II will have [
further good effect of apprisiug t
British government that there is serio
misunderstanding which cannot be
justed by logged persistence in onlorci
the view of either side, and yet there
an intelligent and controlling AmeriC
opinion upon the subject which is
merely ''tail-twistingn and "bumptiou
but both reasonable and resolute. II
not difference which either coun
wishes to settle by war, but which ne'
theless must be settled. The opportuI
to revise and adjust the whole controve
by friendly negotiation is one WI
Secretary Bayard will undoubtedly
prove.